As if April wasn’t already the best month of the year (I’m a biased April baby, don’t mind me)…we now get to see the latest AVENGERS film when it’s released in theaters April 26!

SYNOPSIS: After the devastating events of Avengers: Infinity War (2018), the universe is in ruins due to the efforts of the Mad Titan, Thanos. With the help of remaining allies, the Avengers must assemble once more in order to undo Thanos’ actions and restore order to the universe for once and for all, no matter what consequences may be in store.

I just watched the trailer and –back to my opening statement– Holy crap! Holy crap! Holy crap! Are you as excited as I am to see what happens?!?! There has to be a way that everyone survived, right? Maybe they’re all trapped in some parallel universe controlled by Doctor Strange? What are your theories?? Let me know!

I just got back from an early morning showing of A STAR IS BORN and I am absolutely blown away. It was even better than I expected and seeing it in Dolby (thanks, AMC) made it even more incredible.

In case you were unaware of the plot:

SYNOPSIS: A musician helps a young singer and actress find fame, even as age and alcoholism send his own career into a downward spiral.

Let me start by saying that I listened to the soundtrack for A STAR IS BORN yesterday while I was at work and was pleasantly surprised by the vocals on Bradley Cooper! The music itself was fantastic, but his vocals really proved how versatile and talented he truly is. The tracks with him and Lady Gaga made me want a full album of just them singing with each other. It was really that good! With that being said, here is my warning for those of you that decide to listen to the soundtrack before watching the movie:

YOU WILL KNOW THE ENDING.

Between each track is a dialogue track pulled straight from the movie. As I was listening to each track, I could almost feel the tone of their relationship changing. Once it got to the last three tracks, I called my co-worker and asked if the soundtrack just ruined the ending of the movie for me lol. Update: It did. However, with that being said, nothing could prepare you for the incredible performances given by Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga in this movie.

Consider the fact that this was her first (major) acting role and this was his first time actually singing and “becoming” a musician. They were both kind of walking in the other’s shoes and did so perfectly. I’m convinced that Bradley Cooper, not only as an actor/performer, but as a filmmaker is an absolute genius. This was his directorial debut and he nailed it, in my opinion. The shots were beautiful & there were moments where there was no dialogue, but you knew exactly what they were saying just by looking at each other. The trust between him and Lady Gaga as actors was evident throughout the whole thing. You felt what the characters were feeling. You were invested in their relationship and you rooted for them to succeed. Even the performances by the supporting cast was great. Ally’s friend Ramon (Anthony Ramos) didn’t get much air time, but played a pivotal role in her life and the relationship with Jack. Bobby (Sam Elliott) was great as Jack’s brother and really played a part in breaking my heart throughout the movie.

I love movies and I love music, so any time that they can be combined into one incredible piece of art — I’m there for it. There was no exception here and I am highly recommending it to anyone reading this review. It’s gritty, it’s important, it’s beautiful, it’s tragic. Bradley Cooper allowed the movie to breathe without us feeling like they were shoving dialogue and a fake story down our throats. It felt real and I might need convincing that there isn’t an actual Jack Maine & Ally out there on tour together right now lol. Side Note: Can Sam Elliott lend his voice to a meditating app or something? Let’s make that happen, people!

The only “complaint” I can muster is that there are a few scenes in the trailer (see below) that don’t appear in the movie and I wish they had, but here’s to hoping for an extended version once it’s released on Blu-ray.

So go out and see it now that it’s in theaters! Let me know your thoughts when you do. Do you think this will be Oscar-nominated? I actually think it could be and it honestly couldn’t be more deserving. Great job by all!

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Ladies and gentlemen, we have a second trailer for AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR!!

It was announced on March 1st that the film would be released in theaters a bit earlier than originally expected, so the new trailer has arrived with perfect timing! The Marvel Cinematic Universe will unite to try and defeat Thanos, but the newest trailer shows our beloved superheroes in some trouble!

SYNOPSIS: Two years after the Avengers were torn apart during the events of Captain America: Civil War, Thanos arrives on Earth to collect the Infinity Stones for a gauntlet that will allow him to bend reality to his will. The Avengers must join forces with the Guardians of the Galaxy to stop him before his onslaught of destruction puts an end to the universe.

Did you watch the trailer yet?? If not, what are you waiting for?! Click below and let me know what you think!

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After binge watching The Punisher over the past week, I remembered hearing about this movie that Ben Barnes was in a few years ago and decided to check it out.

THE WORDS was released back in 2012 and stars Bradley Cooper, Zoe Saldana, Dennis Quaid, Olivia Wilde, Jeremy Irons and Ben Barnes.

SYNOPSIS: Rory Jansen, a struggling writer, aspires to be the next great literary voice. When he discovers a lost manuscript in a weathered attaché case, he realizes he possesses something extraordinary that he desperately wishes he had created. Rory decides to pass the work off as his own and finally receives the recognition he desperately craves. However, he soon learns that living with his choice will not be as easy as he thought as he faces a moral dilemma that will make him take a hard look at the man he has become.

I actually enjoyed watching this movie. As a writer, I often find myself questioning my own writing abilities. I can’t tell you how many times in a day I sit and ask myself if I’m good enough to pursue this as a career. I’ve read pieces written by others and I wish I had half of the imagination that they had to create such works of art. The truth is that it all depends on who is reading your work. So, that aspect of the movie really intrigued me. I knew how Rory Jansen felt on a personal level.

While there wasn’t any action in this movie, there was heart and relatability. It may not be for everyone – especially those who are unaware of the trials and tribulations that come along with being a writer. It’s not my favorite movie in the world, but I’m happy I was able to watch it.

Bradley Cooper plays Rory Jansen and does a great job! He’s charming and determined to find his place in the literary world, which is definitely not as easy as one might think. I don’t agree with plagiarizing a novel the way that he does, but I don’t think his intention was to actually have the manuscript published. We all find inspiration in the most random of places, so I think Rory was retyping the manuscript in order to find his own inspiration within this story that he fell in love with. When he saw how excited and proud his wife was, he ran with it.

I enjoyed the concept of a story within a story here as well. I don’t know that the point of it all was as cut and dry as I was expecting, but I overlooked that. It was also a bit disappointing that Ben Barnes’s character as the Young Man barely had any lines. His role was instrumental in the telling of the story, but he’s a fabulous, underestimated actor and I wish they would have given the man some more lines! In any case, even with very few lines, he delivers a fantastic performance. One can even argue whether he is the main character of the story.

Perhaps the movie could have made a stronger impact if it had been just a little bit longer. It leaves the audience with so many unanswered questions and I think tying up a few of them might have been more effective.

As I mentioned, this wasn’t my favorite movie, but if you’re a writer I would recommend watching it. If nothing else, just as a reminder that even through all of the rejection letters and silence from literary agencies and magazines, success can be found in the most unexpected places. Also, don’t plagiarize . . . that’s not cool!

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HOLY CRAP! HOLY CRAP! HOLY CRAP!!!!!!!!! THIS LOOKS AMAZING!!!! Marvel Studios has released the first poster and trailer for AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR and I can not contain my excitement!!! Have you seen it? What do you think??

SYNOPSIS: As the Avengers and their allies have continued to protect the world from threats too large for any one hero to handle, a new danger has emerged from the cosmic shadows: Thanos. A despot of intergalactic infamy, his goal is to collect all six Infinity Stones, artifacts of unimaginable power, and use them to inflict his twisted will on all of reality. Everything the Avengers have fought for has led up to this moment – the fate of Earth and existence itself has never been more uncertain.

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Directed By: Clint EastwoodWritten By: Jason HallStarring: Bradley Cooper, Sienna MillerBased on the Book: American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History (2012) – By: Chris Kyle with Scott McEwen and Jim DeFelice

I’m a few months late on this, but I saw the film last night and thought it was amazing! Let me first remind you that, as I’ve mentioned before, I’m the granddaughter of a late World War II Veteran, and the daughter of a Vietnam Veteran (who passed away a week and a half ago). Yesterday, my father’s ashes were brought back home, so my mother, brother and I decided we would watch this film he desperately wanted to see.

With that being said, I really did enjoy this one! Bradley Cooper is an incredible actor, and he portrays Chris Kyle perfectly. The film starts with a flashback to how Chris Kyle was raised in Texas, and how tough he was from the start. You get to see him grow a bit and turn into this brave young man, determined to protect his country. He develops a relationship with Taya, who he quickly marries. After becoming a U.S. Navy SEAL sniper, Kyle endures four tours in Iraq while Taya is home raising their two young children. In between tours, Kyle begins to experience PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder), which puts a strain on his marriage. Other soldiers refer to Kyle as “Legend” throughout the film due to his incredibly high kill count in Iraq. With an approximate count of over 160 kills, he is known as the most lethal sniper in U.S. Military History which, in addition to his protective qualities, earned him a considerable amount of respect among his peers.

Once their team is ambushed during a sandstorm, he calls Taya and tells her he’s ready to come home. He retires and his relationship with Taya and their children becomes an incredible one. He spends time with other veterans; some who are physically wounded and others who experience PTSD as he had. While out one day helping another veteran, that veteran snaps and shoots Kyle and his friend. The film ends with incredibly moving footage of thousands of people standing along the highway as Chris Kyle’s body is brought to the memorial service held at Cowboys Stadium.

Chris Kyle survived four brutal tours in Iraq, overcame pretty severe PTSD and was unexpectedly murdered by another veteran he was trying to help. If this isn’t a story that should open the eyes about veterans returning home and NEEDING psychological help with PTSD, I don’t know what is. Speaking from experience, anytime we went out to a restaurant with my father, he could never have his back to a door. His PTSD demanded that he have a clear view of the door and anyone who was entering. Soldiers can’t go to war, see the things they see and do the things they do, and then just get shipped back home to deal with the real world again with no help. Kyle left the U.S. Navy in 2009 and was killed in 2013, but he will always be thought of as a true American hero.